British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is in the midst of a long-term programme to enhance the UK’s polar research capabilities – the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP).
AIMP will strengthen the UK’s capability to deliver world-leading climate, biodiversity and ocean research and innovation in Antarctica. It will transform the way we work and support UK and international scientists for generations to come.
A major part of the programme is the Discovery building, a new scientific support and operations facility at Rothera Research Station.
AIMP will help us decarbonise our Antarctic operations, a big step toward our strategic goal to achieve net zero by 2040.
The programme began in 2017, commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). AIMP, together with RRS Sir David Attenborough, is the largest Government investment in polar science infrastructure since the 1980s.
Discovery Building
The Discovery Building is a new, purpose-built scientific support and operations facility. It is already partly operational and will be completed in 2026.
The building is a statement of scientific intent, evidence of BAS’ ambition and commitment to polar science. It will help shape the future of science in the Antarctic for decades to come.
The Discovery Building is a control centre for all the life-support services for station life, such as power, water, energy and communications. It combines support for research, logistics, medical care, an engineering and vehicle workshop, central storage systems, and fitness facilities to support polar science and our people stationed at Rothera.
The design prioritises operational efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. It is thermally efficient, features a wind deflector to reduce snow accumulation, and includes a new energy centre. Solar panels and a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant are estimated to reduce the station’s carbon emissions by 25%.
The building is already generating and distributing its own power and water.
The new two-storey 4,500m2 facility replaces older less-efficient buildings. Work on the Discovery Building began in 2019. Its completion is testament to the skill of BAS teams and our architecture and construction partners at HBA, BAM, Ramboll and Sweco, operating in one of the most difficult environments on Earth.
Updating logistics
AIMP has already helped deliver vital projects, including:
- Rothera runway
- King Edward Point wharf
- Rothera wharf
- RRS Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most advanced polar research vessels.
Rothera runway
The runway at Rothera Research Station is vital infrastructure for the UK’s presence in the Antarctic, and for the research we conduct at the station and in the surrounding area.
In 2024, we increased the length of the runway to 903m, added a turning pad, resurfaced the runway, and upgraded the lighting. All this adds up to safer flying and more energy-efficient lighting.
Making wharves
The wharves at Rothera and King Edward Point Research Stations have both been rebuilt and extended to accommodate the UK’s polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough.
Construction on the new £40m wharf at Rothera began in November 2018 and was completed by April 2020. A specialist team designed, manufactured and built the 84-metre wharf in two Antarctic summer seasons.
Benefits of new Rothera Wharf are:
- accommodates RRS Sir David Attenborough
- reduces the time spent unloading and loading cargo, allowing the ship to spend more time on research at sea
- a larger crane for launching small boats for marine research.
As well as accommodating RRS Sir David Attenborough, the new £11 million wharf at King Edward Point Research Station provides support to the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI). It was completed in May 2020.
The wharf was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and GSGSSI.
King Edward Point is a marine and fisheries research station on South Georgia in the sub-Antarctic. The station is owned by GSGSSI and operated by BAS.
